So Talkbass Has A Store Now...

[paul]

Again, you're just trying to justify the conflict, in my opinion. Saying that "Oh, yeah, we're taking full advantage of placement and readership, but we're only doing it a little." doesn't suddenly take the conflict away.

Ok - ignore the Store link in the header, and any banner ads that may come up (yes it's my site, I may put up a banner ad!), just keep using TalkBass, and if you see a big loss of integrity in the forums, you can stop visiting. I mean, just wait and see how things pan out maybe?

 

[Selta]

People threatened to leave when the site changed servers (I think that's what happened) and looked different. People threatened to leave when the 'like' system was implemented. People threatened to leave when the mobile app was discontinued/changed. There are going to be people who fight any sort of change to the website. Should the admins never implement any changes to the site because of the potential that people will leave?

As far as I can tell, the potential for the store to be implemented inappropriately is just that - potential. My experience here is exactly the same as it was last week, and I'd be incredibly surprised if there is a noticeable negative impact on TalkBass as a whole because of a small store being implemented.

Oh, I agree on the first points. Honestly, 2/3 of the general members could disappear and I probably wouldn't even care. But the if the really good ones, like Jason, leave - then it really degrades the usefulness and content of the forums (for me).

It is potential, and it has already happened with the email and the button placement. TalkBass used its Forum to advertise (en masse, in a way no other member or vendor can) it's Store. Which, is why I say they cannot be seen or treated as two separate things.

I'm not going to leave the forum or anything. It doesn't impact me anywhere near enough for that.

 

[paul]

already happened with the email

What email??

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

To view posters signature is optional. Users have the option to view them. The Store button is static users do not have an option to turn that off. So you force your paid users to view an advertisement.

I've never emailed directly your members paid users advertisements for my store. I do not have the ability to do so. You have emailed users advertising your product (the store).

Your presence in the forums is a far heftier advertisement than a single "we've opened a store" email. One email and one alert compared to thousands and thousands of posts that advertise your business, which you do not have to pay for. Technically you bringing up your VIP program in this thread is a violation of the CUP but that was even allowed to stay.

It's really a simple matter if you look at it without emotion. Will your customer base grow, stay the same, or lessen over the years if you cease all posting here over the years? It's pretty clearly going to be lessen. Probably to a large degree.

We get advertising dollars for banner ads from lots of companies, including bass stores and companies. That doesn't stop Jason from Fodera or Dave from Genzler from posting in the forums as they know their presence means more potential customers and, what's most important, they like talking with the community. If you feel your business will be negatively affected, and have no wish to communicate with the forum if it doesn't benefit your business, then I guess there's nothing we can do.

 

[Luke19Boarder]

it's personal...not sure about you. also, i'm still processing it all. on one hand, i feel like i',m paying to sell items on the forum, and now the forum is using a bit of the money i pay to sell so that they can sell. on another hand, it's the surprise of it all...it just 'appeared'. i dislike the unannounced change quite a bit, and it changes the way i view and interact with this internet space. all out of hands...still mulling it over, but generally displeased.

I guess I can understand being taken aback by how sudden it was implemented, but I think the initial shock will wear off pretty quick...

As far as where your money is going .... if the membership fees don't go up, and the ability for you to sell items doesn't go down, I don't see where a complaint can be made.

 

[paul]

I guess I can understand being taken aback by how sudden it was implemented, but I think the initial shock will wear off pretty quick...

All I wanted to do is give TB Supporting Members a head-start with a special coupon code . I haven't made any announcements because the store is hardly ready to open. I thought the link in the header would be hidden pretty well. Then this thread started....

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Ok - ignore the Store link in the header, and any banner ads that may come up (yes it's my site, I may put up a banner ad!), just keep using TalkBass, and if you see a big loss of integrity in the forums, you can stop visiting. I mean, just wait and see how things pan out maybe?

Honestly this reminds me of the huge hubbub that arose when it was decided Off Topic posts would no longer count towards people's overall post count. People moaned and groaned and said they'd lose interest in coming here....then a month passed and no one noticed at all.

 

[pacojas]

Ok - ignore the Store link in the header, and any banner ads that may come up (yes it's my site, I may put up a banner ad!), just keep using TalkBass, and if you see a big loss of integrity in the forums, you can stop visiting. I mean, just wait and see how things pan out maybe?

@paul,.. why are you having to explain this??? you don't owe anyone an explanation. it's self-explanatory, imho. people need to chill and let the business world spin. like it or not, vote with your dollars.

 

[nutdog]

No carrots T shirts? Best bass for metal coffee mugs? Squier not Squire hats? My SX is better than your Fodera fountain pen?

I am disappoint.

 

[SLaPiNFuNK]

Your presence in the forums is a far heftier advertisement than a single "we've opened a store" email. One email and one alert compared to thousands and thousands of posts that advertise your business, which you do not have to pay for. Technically you bringing up your VIP program in this thread is a violation of the CUP but that was even allowed to stay.

It's really a simple matter if you look at it without emotion. Will your customer base grow, stay the same, or lessen over the years if you cease all posting here over the years? It's pretty clearly going to be lessen. Probably to a large degree.

We get advertising dollars for banner ads from lots of companies, including bass stores and companies. That doesn't stop Jason from Fodera or Dave from Genzler from posting in the forums as they know their presence means more potential customers and, what's most important, they like talking with the community. If you feel your business will be negatively affected, and have no wish to communicate with the forum if it doesn't benefit your business, then I guess there's nothing we can do.

Show me one post where I say "this is what you need, buy it here..." or "I can get that for you" etc... there are none. The ones that were there long time ago were promptly deleted and I got a point for doing so. I do not advertise my business in posts or blanket PMs to users. The only time I do is if someone asks me directly..."slapinfunk your opinion". Or if someone posts in the WTB section.

If they wanted more money or someone to pay for ads they could have reached out to current advertisers.

"Supporting members" in my opinion shouldn't have to see Google ads or any ads. You guys do it I'm not gonna argue. The same community (your members paid or not) have an environment that has always been made to discourage commercial posts... the ambassador program for example that is sticky in the bass guitar forum... no discussion of value if instruments etc. The non commercial aspects is what made the community what it is.

 

[Luke19Boarder]

No carrots T shirts? Best bass for metal coffee mugs? Squier not Squire hats? My SX is better than your Fodera fountain pen?

I am disappoint.

All in favor of Nutdog being in charge of merch?

Aye!

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Again, you're just trying to justify the conflict, in my opinion. Saying that "Oh, yeah, we're taking full advantage of placement and readership, but we're only doing it a little." doesn't suddenly take the conflict away.

Again, there's no conflict with anyone. All of Jason's posts that advertise his business in his sig and avatar? He posts those for free. It's a conflict with us to allow those to stay up, but they aren't being censored or deleted.

 

[nutdog]

DO A SEARCH underwear

 

[Tanner5382]

Tort Shirts

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Show me one post where I say "this is what you need, buy it here..." or "I can get that for you" etc... there are none. The ones that were there long time ago were promptly deleted and I got a point for doing so. I do not advertise my business in posts or blanket PMs to users. The only time I do is if someone asks me directly..."slapinfunk your opinion". Or if someone posts in the WTB section.

If they wanted more money or someone to pay for ads they could have reached out to current advertisers.

"Supporting members" in my opinion shouldn't have to see Google ads or any ads. You guys do it I'm not gonna argue. The same community (your members paid or not) have an environment that has always been made to discourage commercial posts... the ambassador program for example that is sticky in the bass guitar forum... no discussion of value if instruments etc. The non commercial aspects is what made the community what it is.

Your signature is an advertisement, as well as your continued presence here. You know this- otherwise you wouldn't have your signature there and you wouldn't feel the need to leave the forum if it drew business to a business other than yours.

 

[Luke19Boarder]

"YOU'RE FIRED" drumsticks

 

[Tanner5382]

"Desciples of JimmyM" Devo hats

 

[Selta]

Again, there's no conflict with anyone.

Saying it over and over doesn't really make it true. But, now we're just going in circles, so I'm going to go ahead and bail out. Good luck with the store, and hopefully Jason sticks around.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

It is interesting to see Paul, the mods and SLaPinFuNK have a "discussion" like the rest of knuckleheads around here.

Who you callin' a knucklehead, you low brow slug!, Why, I oughtta...

 

[Fiset]

I work for a large media company and we monetize everything we possibly can. We also sell advertising to and work with competitors in mutually beneficial ways. On a macro level, I don't see a lot of difference as it relates to whats going on here with the store. If I'm in Paul's shoes, I would most definitely be looking for ways to monetize my assets. Outside vendors may still maintain their presence here and take advantage of the massive, specific audience this site affords them. To shut down that resource because one feels its not "fair" for TB to have a store is certainly a business decision that can be made. However, its not one that I think makes a lot of sense and not one I would make on a whim without clearly understanding the impact to my business.